tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4000946940118990312024-02-21T10:43:43.353-06:00Drilling Holes In The SkyThis blog seems to have become mostly about our cats. However other interesting things appear here too.futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-82223356473764256632018-04-26T10:35:00.002-05:002018-04-26T10:38:47.810-05:00Brick Oven: It's finally finished!We are delighted to finally have this oven finished and Done!<br />
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Alan got the last of the tiles laid and grouting finished in early April; cleaned and sealed the tiles over the next couple of weeks. I put the remaining coats of paint on and did some touch-ups here and there.<br />
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Here's a fire about to be lit, inside the dome.<br />
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We test fired it last Sunday and it all worked very nicely, we enjoyed some hot delicious breads and pizza. Yay!<br />
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And here it is again - doesn't it look pretty? - all stocked up with wood and ready to cook :-)<br />
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Onwards!futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-91236246767885690982017-12-02T10:25:00.000-06:002018-04-26T10:43:12.138-05:00Brick Oven: Glass and TileI made some glass tiles for the corners of the oven.<br />
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Alan chose some beautiful Mexican terra-cotta tile to go onto the floor of the wood store and around the base. He cut them all up on the tile saw and managed to get some of them attached before the weather window closed again for the winter.<br />
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Somewhere in here we got the base painted, too, in a dark orange color. And the wooden surround of the shelf was stained in a dark brown wood preserver coating.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_In3uuU2lz3cIWpBixDOyezoxDdX9XrgVqYc-PFg1zGbdo7enTbCRJt0dVtjvXoVqokjfoBfUerk1_ecZFDR_6WpapxDXJziNkRAHPI-PfHQ2O78RiksTCjQGuvUsEZhlPFgBqyH_7b8/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_In3uuU2lz3cIWpBixDOyezoxDdX9XrgVqYc-PFg1zGbdo7enTbCRJt0dVtjvXoVqokjfoBfUerk1_ecZFDR_6WpapxDXJziNkRAHPI-PfHQ2O78RiksTCjQGuvUsEZhlPFgBqyH_7b8/s640/IMG_0947.JPG" width="480" height="640" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-63219534795556706312017-11-27T10:12:00.000-06:002018-04-26T10:24:30.244-05:00Brick Oven: Stucco and PaintWell, it only took two years to get a suitable weather window, but we finally got the stucco onto the dome. Yay, no more tarp!<br />
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First up was the base coat of regular stucco.<br />
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Then Alan finished it with a coat of fine stucco. <br />
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I used our 3D printer to make a set of stamps, and printed stamp shapes into the dome :-)<br />
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Next up was some paint. We chose colors to match the house, so we have a light straw beige for the dome itself.<br />
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futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-87269747841975386302016-03-09T17:28:00.000-06:002016-03-09T17:28:20.423-06:00Some gratuitous cat pictures<p>It's been such lovely weather this Spring that we have spent some time sitting outside, and sometimes I've taken my long lens out with me. And then the cats come and hang out with us...<br />
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<p>Portrait of Sunshine<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopfNFOwkIYsbB3wP82DbunFW6ScRXIXAfp_y5jv4nDy3_XpivpGaDxo82cHizBJTDPXYkvqwROONeC3Do0WBwt_K9nBlhmzG8aZK0HYgMNNTQFCufQKCtx0YGP5BaaV-sCR-ROZqu96w/s1600/Cats-feb2016-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopfNFOwkIYsbB3wP82DbunFW6ScRXIXAfp_y5jv4nDy3_XpivpGaDxo82cHizBJTDPXYkvqwROONeC3Do0WBwt_K9nBlhmzG8aZK0HYgMNNTQFCufQKCtx0YGP5BaaV-sCR-ROZqu96w/s640/Cats-feb2016-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Portrait of Smokey<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzy633j0R3E64Aj7kpBM5hJFOAomaIIgKP0gFlZQ0BSNNd-9LxYWzTbBxy4mOfHjs3cJB889dW8hcioZ4pNzCXGYVjhKk6f5VNvIeYuLrMzRiZLBXjDY_veLd6iu34zjp_H8V_mXJ_ZQ/s1600/Cats-feb2016-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzy633j0R3E64Aj7kpBM5hJFOAomaIIgKP0gFlZQ0BSNNd-9LxYWzTbBxy4mOfHjs3cJB889dW8hcioZ4pNzCXGYVjhKk6f5VNvIeYuLrMzRiZLBXjDY_veLd6iu34zjp_H8V_mXJ_ZQ/s640/Cats-feb2016-3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Smokey languishing<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ifvCKaweWsGpY83vT96rsqK5B8DA9ODHYsiBIvAbWy6jHnBdk7R6eRNHBvkvS4kJI6tQpBWDs5pv_6SPqe1j5wRLS35IQMftUX7PYtDn3C6yTiioNK68SMjCNx4rIbsKPyppzhmGJ-U/s1600/Cats-feb2016-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ifvCKaweWsGpY83vT96rsqK5B8DA9ODHYsiBIvAbWy6jHnBdk7R6eRNHBvkvS4kJI6tQpBWDs5pv_6SPqe1j5wRLS35IQMftUX7PYtDn3C6yTiioNK68SMjCNx4rIbsKPyppzhmGJ-U/s640/Cats-feb2016-2.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>And prowling<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRvSJXzQTZjDMKo2suVJfnBMmWlqOATXr1OTDr8HCHB9rBRNPsDededybnGiu_xpeLi5WDnOOawVDbvO6H6eiE6bc2jRCmxL-oP40UY6-P4-H_zMXs3UDi2Vx8qQOhBCa9VEOJHymj0/s1600/Cats-feb2016-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRvSJXzQTZjDMKo2suVJfnBMmWlqOATXr1OTDr8HCHB9rBRNPsDededybnGiu_xpeLi5WDnOOawVDbvO6H6eiE6bc2jRCmxL-oP40UY6-P4-H_zMXs3UDi2Vx8qQOhBCa9VEOJHymj0/s640/Cats-feb2016-4.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Meanwhile, Sunshine has taken over the old barbecue table...<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinueI4WCF9Ln-KFuvoWQfR5-pZ3uhdhUXC8atwkl1tmNQ7Cje0cfWYUxxoU20Yf8aAHZVwsrQFu4HY7fr8DNW-y4U9-qGhy8B2z2smwH_OB4FkzScUppd2dUCAsA5-MCcgRM3fOUj3FEk/s1600/Cats-feb2016-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinueI4WCF9Ln-KFuvoWQfR5-pZ3uhdhUXC8atwkl1tmNQ7Cje0cfWYUxxoU20Yf8aAHZVwsrQFu4HY7fr8DNW-y4U9-qGhy8B2z2smwH_OB4FkzScUppd2dUCAsA5-MCcgRM3fOUj3FEk/s640/Cats-feb2016-5.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuetEkv7Lww_q8mPl646Ua6bUc1Bu6-g1GtBtIsxnQwZLDvIYc95nuUqSRdI0IggpmJDlllSs1KoWzuw-v65hvtiCyFgPuCdEMn3VbNEWBY7cckON5M4DzF7hdp_usK-o6nsadXSFA08M/s1600/Cats-feb2016-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuetEkv7Lww_q8mPl646Ua6bUc1Bu6-g1GtBtIsxnQwZLDvIYc95nuUqSRdI0IggpmJDlllSs1KoWzuw-v65hvtiCyFgPuCdEMn3VbNEWBY7cckON5M4DzF7hdp_usK-o6nsadXSFA08M/s640/Cats-feb2016-6.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQvYpz7ckKqgz0UBXv5MWp5-S1LOfQLYVMOQL_l0dlHnTVfkJOPH0W4WZfSNU0EFflzHgiYSc07m-t0ADf1N54PaZ9UcAloPlDxYRoMHNNLGe9y_rIJf9UjJD2pnjDDN-aJLoKrw5NmQ/s1600/Cats-feb2016-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQvYpz7ckKqgz0UBXv5MWp5-S1LOfQLYVMOQL_l0dlHnTVfkJOPH0W4WZfSNU0EFflzHgiYSc07m-t0ADf1N54PaZ9UcAloPlDxYRoMHNNLGe9y_rIJf9UjJD2pnjDDN-aJLoKrw5NmQ/s640/Cats-feb2016-7.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Smokey is watching the birds<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc6Y59urcXvfoXvKX68hHe6cc7w1X1PwAJr1A6y2WAus6YfRj3ATwIHEHMWomybx2iX7ZQmiEgKsCtwDOuB-U0PlQ_SpgrWfw4wZsVHU16Zuyv87Jc_Fp6qufVM6r9RamB0d55jfoRck/s1600/Cats-feb2016-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc6Y59urcXvfoXvKX68hHe6cc7w1X1PwAJr1A6y2WAus6YfRj3ATwIHEHMWomybx2iX7ZQmiEgKsCtwDOuB-U0PlQ_SpgrWfw4wZsVHU16Zuyv87Jc_Fp6qufVM6r9RamB0d55jfoRck/s640/Cats-feb2016-8.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Calm; before...<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQt7_25VwZwZYJwPLs1ufjjQ5VyDIrx4Vf7_oy-fLEqeX7qcDOVApwN0vTAWgK9cgni4pqJXtnRPNeCJUMAknT6pr7Pyyzb0DktHue2OCUp40t0s3EAPQEVf11cCmlPyedaw3vbncbQTE/s1600/Cats-feb2016-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQt7_25VwZwZYJwPLs1ufjjQ5VyDIrx4Vf7_oy-fLEqeX7qcDOVApwN0vTAWgK9cgni4pqJXtnRPNeCJUMAknT6pr7Pyyzb0DktHue2OCUp40t0s3EAPQEVf11cCmlPyedaw3vbncbQTE/s640/Cats-feb2016-9.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>The inevitable storm...<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul8EKFiZSPu1B_2OvYnAvNogPz3_6CZdiwSuYLulqO5wVL1GB9q00wiH4bDOYq29qQLf_wpKzE8SYEwKNoYne32NJV4tzoMIJ74vti06ys2_uVT_P9ArXvF-BD7Tlfw-k0QwM3fhnnYw/s1600/Cats-feb2016-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul8EKFiZSPu1B_2OvYnAvNogPz3_6CZdiwSuYLulqO5wVL1GB9q00wiH4bDOYq29qQLf_wpKzE8SYEwKNoYne32NJV4tzoMIJ74vti06ys2_uVT_P9ArXvF-BD7Tlfw-k0QwM3fhnnYw/s640/Cats-feb2016-10.jpg" /></a>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-53978283213381655592016-03-09T16:40:00.000-06:002016-03-09T16:40:47.862-06:00Some Creatures<p>I've found a few various creatures in my camera lens recently. Let's see what we have here.<br />
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<p>This Opossum showed up in my game camera. We also saw a suspected skunk; at least, the blurry shape was black and white, and judging from the smells the next morning, I don't think it was the local cat.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9ssjIwr0TRhDZkgCeyq9HKMy41HI9L_jGMaLeI-1aNPjZuVCccfHUaeBPMWjGAiUob383gmDyr0XOFjQ757Es2RUpzCAyi-jfjP0HGlcZc02sHxzWDgbW10tlJEJynf5rO2NghrRrwQ/s1600/creatures-opossum.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9ssjIwr0TRhDZkgCeyq9HKMy41HI9L_jGMaLeI-1aNPjZuVCccfHUaeBPMWjGAiUob383gmDyr0XOFjQ757Es2RUpzCAyi-jfjP0HGlcZc02sHxzWDgbW10tlJEJynf5rO2NghrRrwQ/s640/creatures-opossum.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Here's a Great Horned Owl that alighted in our tree the other night. I happened to see her land; the motion looked unfamiliar - not a vulture - and then I realized the shape had ears! It was almost dark; the sun was well down, but I grabbed my long lens and maxed out the camera as fast it would go.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AMYF9q3-yBtii1imlcFPQOUg2a3zjOtSyBmPTu55eAnAugccYX1AyjOnEnXr_gye7jcJUkZ8lgnmrVO0y1m8FkiG0zArpyxxIx5bip676owX9gVqMEqtklSwVvGT6L9BOqyPHPbTebc/s1600/creatures-owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AMYF9q3-yBtii1imlcFPQOUg2a3zjOtSyBmPTu55eAnAugccYX1AyjOnEnXr_gye7jcJUkZ8lgnmrVO0y1m8FkiG0zArpyxxIx5bip676owX9gVqMEqtklSwVvGT6L9BOqyPHPbTebc/s640/creatures-owl.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Here's a Polyphemus moth outside friend Terri's stable. That hosepipe in the picture is an inch in diameter, for scale. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX8LK5RiZEN03i_oWROaqOLp2a68LoE52XCLmKprbTmQNzmXpO-zk3GVK-XWrjnPcdXkl32i-4gpl01n4wRCff8o0ydi0nvJXGzRCCmc1HJx-mymtc_aBwn798z_Q7BN5QHcFCgEoqBk/s1600/creatures-moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX8LK5RiZEN03i_oWROaqOLp2a68LoE52XCLmKprbTmQNzmXpO-zk3GVK-XWrjnPcdXkl32i-4gpl01n4wRCff8o0ydi0nvJXGzRCCmc1HJx-mymtc_aBwn798z_Q7BN5QHcFCgEoqBk/s640/creatures-moth.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>This is from back in January but I don't think I posted it yet. A Sparrow and a Cardinal sharing the feeder.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuurY9_9ZijCe2KnVz4CQLg4I2QdwL3A9WEEjIXa8gTcVxgYj9_QlcrGqdnHoAusRT2eF83K8xf7C3y4lu_BgF0sVLYkNbqLOl1t5uWalKEOsYIyWkk9ewqfgFsv6FE5X3THlDLsvHnQ/s1600/birdies-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuurY9_9ZijCe2KnVz4CQLg4I2QdwL3A9WEEjIXa8gTcVxgYj9_QlcrGqdnHoAusRT2eF83K8xf7C3y4lu_BgF0sVLYkNbqLOl1t5uWalKEOsYIyWkk9ewqfgFsv6FE5X3THlDLsvHnQ/s640/birdies-1.jpg" /></a> futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-27088668413309699302016-03-09T16:35:00.002-06:002016-03-09T16:35:54.650-06:00Some flowers<p>Spring has sprung, and the flowers are starting to color the world. Yay!<br />
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<p>Spring begins with the Redbud tree. It's one of the closest things we have to cherry blossom. This one isn't fully out yet.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIambqa5w1_LXtrgfpcqV_vEllz3XZIGRjomc_jwt9AVm-OUzh-y4lJw2VJrw94BQRDj9VFl35aX1rfQRR9KzItOci8jwagMjUBz_ONPEhLCpXMCCuPBMZiupC_qDwAjdZlsp6eTE9fA/s1600/flowers+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIambqa5w1_LXtrgfpcqV_vEllz3XZIGRjomc_jwt9AVm-OUzh-y4lJw2VJrw94BQRDj9VFl35aX1rfQRR9KzItOci8jwagMjUBz_ONPEhLCpXMCCuPBMZiupC_qDwAjdZlsp6eTE9fA/s640/flowers+-+4.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>I've no idea what these little yellow flowers are - they're about 2 inches wide and are popping up all over the place. Some kind of primrose? It has a strange stem/root structure.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKOb0xuHmdW8ckZYyhTKcWjmnihsq7mXCvzQLfGYVsGG_fJJ3QKQ1or6jR0ls7D3ClFEnFlvShq1GFJ1N7dtvAaTnIm4cJ0_CIb-gaCZ5v0Njoci9ANc74z3AhZyoF3vhroDVUGGVj5g/s1600/flowers+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKOb0xuHmdW8ckZYyhTKcWjmnihsq7mXCvzQLfGYVsGG_fJJ3QKQ1or6jR0ls7D3ClFEnFlvShq1GFJ1N7dtvAaTnIm4cJ0_CIb-gaCZ5v0Njoci9ANc74z3AhZyoF3vhroDVUGGVj5g/s640/flowers+-+6.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>If you can't see the flowers, you sure as heck can smell these Mountain Laurels. Ours, like many others, is in full swing this year. They flower in two-year cycles; we got nothing last year but some bean pods. They make an incredible aroma; very sweet, a bit like honeysuckle maybe, and you can smell them for miles around. I'm sure someone is making a fortune bottling this smell. If nothing else, the bush is starting to buzz with all the happy insects visiting it.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQ80cZM4huYCNSwh_0h2mgOiFv-FCcODpcamr-3YfO2jrryKHNPEjUuvmfFR5cgTkqkg6wDYHr4zZFnGjJ97UJw0q9TwDO0jYKn0kZeg8pnDtRlV1omhyRga3fxmFtv4vTrhM_-9HN-Q/s1600/flowers+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQ80cZM4huYCNSwh_0h2mgOiFv-FCcODpcamr-3YfO2jrryKHNPEjUuvmfFR5cgTkqkg6wDYHr4zZFnGjJ97UJw0q9TwDO0jYKn0kZeg8pnDtRlV1omhyRga3fxmFtv4vTrhM_-9HN-Q/s640/flowers+-+7.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>This is the pear tree that friend Tamzin got us a couple of years ago. It's blooming nicely this year. Also filling my cherry blossom void.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbX51g6ZcAs2gE8bu0ra7IL85EN5aDu7tjr3XodSbP9h1n0x4slDvHPnWQeEt5-9eBWwItS7Y8kW4Zq30GZqgmdymL95uk18B7pnohaFT2CM_wF71fGjjWHJPc1EHkb3JHZcXBRe3TG8/s1600/flowers+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbX51g6ZcAs2gE8bu0ra7IL85EN5aDu7tjr3XodSbP9h1n0x4slDvHPnWQeEt5-9eBWwItS7Y8kW4Zq30GZqgmdymL95uk18B7pnohaFT2CM_wF71fGjjWHJPc1EHkb3JHZcXBRe3TG8/s640/flowers+-+8.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Friend Terri think these might be Boysenberries, or blackberries. I thought they looked like blackberry bushes. Let's hope I find the fruit before the deer do.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRErkrBPLVZutFi1VZQLy5pZsUcdNHI_-_j6NBC4Ae-cYHZ_AQET-jFyG394Hcklt6b-vMtmCeeK8i8dbQMPYVo2JtwzcB_d9PwYUH3u8hTz9AbPHklO5syrx8brEYSdI_fPaPSJ-lQk/s1600/flowers+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRErkrBPLVZutFi1VZQLy5pZsUcdNHI_-_j6NBC4Ae-cYHZ_AQET-jFyG394Hcklt6b-vMtmCeeK8i8dbQMPYVo2JtwzcB_d9PwYUH3u8hTz9AbPHklO5syrx8brEYSdI_fPaPSJ-lQk/s640/flowers+-+10.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>And last but not least, it's not allowed to be Spring in Texas without a profusion of Bluebonnets. We had enough rain earlier this year that they say it will be a good year for wildflowers. I expect to see a lot more of these guys over the next month or two.<br />
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOUmPDw1znxcMaUhPlhlsbP9-YorSHz3_T8_1svoCAo02XF4Re9imPY3ngVCsCKIwbnNxUBBX5LviqSxVQWLuq9DmKxIizhlDZNV4BJq0mtrLtkBcUeL7bMa0Xg7fGXy3QrPCgGQDnso/s1600/flowers+-+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOUmPDw1znxcMaUhPlhlsbP9-YorSHz3_T8_1svoCAo02XF4Re9imPY3ngVCsCKIwbnNxUBBX5LviqSxVQWLuq9DmKxIizhlDZNV4BJq0mtrLtkBcUeL7bMa0Xg7fGXy3QrPCgGQDnso/s640/flowers+-+9.jpg" /></a>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-13921506336553770092016-03-06T16:47:00.001-06:002016-03-06T16:47:08.655-06:00Front Yard updateSpring is sprung, and I got The Twitch on to get some new plants. <div><br></div><div>A friend and I went to a garden center we hadn't been to before and ended up with a few things. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M33wXp5MxeCq1vjNT7AL-LbNi3Y2-PtysiPEzbgMy8KwAP9M-Y3VqtPBrWKBebD0Qv51hFDoayo8nuyo6pNcBt8eitw44JXcxxJYw93xyrSL3ANma8wCKb6Emcka57bKcP_TOX0kGAk/s640/blogger-image--254702222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M33wXp5MxeCq1vjNT7AL-LbNi3Y2-PtysiPEzbgMy8KwAP9M-Y3VqtPBrWKBebD0Qv51hFDoayo8nuyo6pNcBt8eitw44JXcxxJYw93xyrSL3ANma8wCKb6Emcka57bKcP_TOX0kGAk/s640/blogger-image--254702222.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's a variegated garlic, a gerbera and a fuzzy Jew on the right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Twitch didn't go away, and since its been such lovely weather recently, today I procured Tank #2 for the front yard. This has gone into the shady end which doesn't get any direct sun, so I got shade tolerant ferns and Impatiens flowers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9mtLqJwme1ZpkWzWC06Ga1PkU1Faxj4uIBYnkA_ZryB1gVtP5ksGEu_xDaQzoqKgecu2fBMKflDKFzG3ib17G-1KeoWOvcLvKsZantlqA4HUqPiXv8Y1CuizrIWClYki7ZFTFksSc24/s640/blogger-image-754209263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9mtLqJwme1ZpkWzWC06Ga1PkU1Faxj4uIBYnkA_ZryB1gVtP5ksGEu_xDaQzoqKgecu2fBMKflDKFzG3ib17G-1KeoWOvcLvKsZantlqA4HUqPiXv8Y1CuizrIWClYki7ZFTFksSc24/s640/blogger-image-754209263.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also put a few new plants into Tank #1 since we lost the pencil cactus, unfortunately. The chap at the garden center advised leaving them in their pots for a bit so I just plopped them in place as you see here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY3hAOLnnEDQf5FXW9FVm3MOGc99-Mz7wZ7qLDsJOlgRpLukyJ0mS7SjTqHkOf2WitbCXV6LoDfshWkfmf8Q6NZu-NvWC0x1xQohrGl-OSEjwUXquwTyD5vO9sM7kejBYJbDsevnMimk/s640/blogger-image-2010486416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY3hAOLnnEDQf5FXW9FVm3MOGc99-Mz7wZ7qLDsJOlgRpLukyJ0mS7SjTqHkOf2WitbCXV6LoDfshWkfmf8Q6NZu-NvWC0x1xQohrGl-OSEjwUXquwTyD5vO9sM7kejBYJbDsevnMimk/s640/blogger-image-2010486416.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's the whole tank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82NOhAkRMf0BplAYT4DlSWj5u8Ci04hXHU8qD9rhtAF9jACEdKopOSC7YHNODVR4XYdR0x-TIUMYAQo8eILLYCUYUklV_JKsBVml5LKDsm7c_C0oqjnDqwO5rdllIXETKptvByi27DmU/s640/blogger-image--143036578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82NOhAkRMf0BplAYT4DlSWj5u8Ci04hXHU8qD9rhtAF9jACEdKopOSC7YHNODVR4XYdR0x-TIUMYAQo8eILLYCUYUklV_JKsBVml5LKDsm7c_C0oqjnDqwO5rdllIXETKptvByi27DmU/s640/blogger-image--143036578.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can see the drapey thing has grown, and we even have a blue flower :-) (bottom left)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I moved the Gerbera to the back yard as I don't think it was getting enough sun where it was. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So; onwards. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-50779199849414895092015-12-24T17:32:00.001-06:002015-12-24T17:32:59.362-06:00Comparisons<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I just got my drone back in the air after a bit of a hiatus, so what else to do but a quick before and after of the front yard?<br />
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Here's what it used to look like, last January. I didn't get quite high enough to show the whole yard but you can see it was not a pretty thing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tfHc6KcjkoM2QoxdyF1rwn-xgCGoTJMgT0l9iHqpsUohYVLvr_Z0-f8McMD1uLrx6iqVHQtNOy25HUDMknCwz5N0NzUTNEFotch0Ie0P0boKi6mpUajrb_0ffvA-wvOKpr_crGPpWbk/s640/blogger-image--514234863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tfHc6KcjkoM2QoxdyF1rwn-xgCGoTJMgT0l9iHqpsUohYVLvr_Z0-f8McMD1uLrx6iqVHQtNOy25HUDMknCwz5N0NzUTNEFotch0Ie0P0boKi6mpUajrb_0ffvA-wvOKpr_crGPpWbk/s640/blogger-image--514234863.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And here's what it looks like now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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Sunshine Noir<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebnrYbssubPh1DtaF2JW7xKWBpzFHlGYt-nqqopkp7TI61yuyM1_sIPFVgR8juXVe3hmi7oflTGASMaazEaoryM8GR9q2Z4Zsu2I_snYa0cyW-vojPWQxY1b3JAEOxNogQrqUIEtwQIs/s640/blogger-image--439017888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebnrYbssubPh1DtaF2JW7xKWBpzFHlGYt-nqqopkp7TI61yuyM1_sIPFVgR8juXVe3hmi7oflTGASMaazEaoryM8GR9q2Z4Zsu2I_snYa0cyW-vojPWQxY1b3JAEOxNogQrqUIEtwQIs/s640/blogger-image--439017888.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sunshine in the Sun</div>
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Cat Nest :-)</div>
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Something interesting is up this tree...<br />
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Smokey poses for the camera<br />
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Contemplating bugs in the grass<br />
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Surveying his domain</div>
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Quality controlling the comfort levels of the bench<br />
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futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-82291472020491559792015-12-17T11:46:00.000-06:002015-12-17T11:46:13.224-06:00New uses for old thingsWe have an old fire pit that has been kicking around for ages. The lid rusted through so we replaced it with a bigger pit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbR8-YmFJzySwj8u24RJm7iG5qNyrKa63pLcjK29URXhzZ_m7PnoHzfiS4GnVUUwI8ooZI86ctXTmdWZMmZbOI09wAUwAPjXX1KL2YUUwYRJbQjNLHpTR_l7WJ7C6IqxpdW2WsyA5t74/s640/blogger-image-683041220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbR8-YmFJzySwj8u24RJm7iG5qNyrKa63pLcjK29URXhzZ_m7PnoHzfiS4GnVUUwI8ooZI86ctXTmdWZMmZbOI09wAUwAPjXX1KL2YUUwYRJbQjNLHpTR_l7WJ7C6IqxpdW2WsyA5t74/s640/blogger-image-683041220.jpg" /></a></div>
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I thought I would clean it up and make a planter out of it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r_H9lleTxgxzRVwOLk_wBaW3yHqXley576zk1MyOFyC0l4LO_SkzMTdk-APnSjCUrhC1oLPPQ2dW-v9-y8eaVPVluNHDfm3OoCuRLcDmX4ahXTiH7fyIZpbM8UQXPx3ZQ8vqNefm3MY/s640/blogger-image-914730298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r_H9lleTxgxzRVwOLk_wBaW3yHqXley576zk1MyOFyC0l4LO_SkzMTdk-APnSjCUrhC1oLPPQ2dW-v9-y8eaVPVluNHDfm3OoCuRLcDmX4ahXTiH7fyIZpbM8UQXPx3ZQ8vqNefm3MY/s640/blogger-image-914730298.jpg" /></a></div>
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Hm, maybe not. The bowl fell apart as soon as I touched it. </div>
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Plan B then; the base was still in good shape, so I took the Percussive Detachment Tool (a hammer) to it and cleaned that up, with steel brushes and sanding. One can of spray paint and a suitably sized terra cotta bowl later, we have This:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbACgz1_uyZZ5_NvLedynO10UIVw5GVHaEpJYC_Kao21x05I8w9A4JXvaF863w5IKHJvh3PqTcHAzjQxh2T3s5bkzR0iI-kSdjlizXg7eE360kU-wh1-YdDi80icIw9FFH_KCUZf7ahU/s640/blogger-image-1912206912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbACgz1_uyZZ5_NvLedynO10UIVw5GVHaEpJYC_Kao21x05I8w9A4JXvaF863w5IKHJvh3PqTcHAzjQxh2T3s5bkzR0iI-kSdjlizXg7eE360kU-wh1-YdDi80icIw9FFH_KCUZf7ahU/s640/blogger-image-1912206912.jpg" /></a></div>
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A nice splash of color for the front yard. Not bad, eh?<br />
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futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-25915312966756207442015-12-09T09:11:00.000-06:002015-12-09T09:11:09.261-06:00Investigations<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Of course, it doesn't take long before the tank gets investigated by Cats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjikvlPoESL8Xqw3QdaQfPISiN5QZx_4grL0zzsAwDNFmWlLp7NhVjSpo_Gv0aDBxwXSnaMX50OSDK1vV1vLkXT1tPdn6clIIl8v2abOpbjkLgbzWNMxyhRgUtXCZsJsz4xMhHb9ccA/s640/blogger-image--1557536140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjikvlPoESL8Xqw3QdaQfPISiN5QZx_4grL0zzsAwDNFmWlLp7NhVjSpo_Gv0aDBxwXSnaMX50OSDK1vV1vLkXT1tPdn6clIIl8v2abOpbjkLgbzWNMxyhRgUtXCZsJsz4xMhHb9ccA/s640/blogger-image--1557536140.jpg" /></a></div>
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Some of them investigate more closely than others...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfeHHhjVrRWXAT9-3hqzb3ZUIEPeTdgAyWA7CCtjDlqzlUSp5Iq4NK6UmzR8IPb6CKrICPLiKOKvUt5p6m9cdXdA0dU2dJyy0kj51CUVDCefr063WCHpoSOfAeduSt0wlPNCj6DRQ67E/s640/blogger-image-825541973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfeHHhjVrRWXAT9-3hqzb3ZUIEPeTdgAyWA7CCtjDlqzlUSp5Iq4NK6UmzR8IPb6CKrICPLiKOKvUt5p6m9cdXdA0dU2dJyy0kj51CUVDCefr063WCHpoSOfAeduSt0wlPNCj6DRQ67E/s640/blogger-image-825541973.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-75415496697413829672015-12-08T21:33:00.000-06:002015-12-08T21:33:15.057-06:00The Tank<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Our neighbors kindly let me borrow their truck, in which I drove into Austin to a splendid shop named Callahan's General Store. This is an excellent agricultural emporium, with everything you could ever need for ranch or farm. Amongst the huge inventory, they sell stock tanks. And stock tanks make for big, cheap(ish), plant pots. They're quite popular around here.</div>
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Here is a 4-foot diameter stock tank in the back of the truck.</div>
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I had Alan drill some holes in the bottom for drainage. Seems a bit strange, turning a perfectly watertight good honest tank into a sieve. But it's necessary.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VnSgtOZe3GRhZVoZtX4jDTNL7I7zGqC2UfwJZk0Wiau8QD8ivaS_hxW0Cnos0NpspRHiyIKNZdYsmVZEN70fPgRj71cJ1XSg1LtkmIGZqhbJumrNw47WS7eSvntt-6XhiKuy-O9WR6I/s640/blogger-image-1372024787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VnSgtOZe3GRhZVoZtX4jDTNL7I7zGqC2UfwJZk0Wiau8QD8ivaS_hxW0Cnos0NpspRHiyIKNZdYsmVZEN70fPgRj71cJ1XSg1LtkmIGZqhbJumrNw47WS7eSvntt-6XhiKuy-O9WR6I/s640/blogger-image-1372024787.jpg" /></a></div>
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Next I took some of the excess rocks that we had in the courtyard and put them into the bottom; again; for drainage. I also lined the sides and part of the bottom with plastic (actually, bubble wrap, since that's what I had handy) - the tank is galvanized steel - apparently zinc can prevent woody growth in plants so it's best to cover it up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfuo6OXqzCL4gbXouoqrKkrIr7lWwDvQV-7HhXXUObSGmgn1fI_g8mZueyKy3iqI-FKD4zLx4Mrp2IfI6Vf1fwHl8vlr3-weU4rXxQ6L-OqgQ5Sws-X5MDH11cOSD_EWdVqCtATuZpNg/s640/blogger-image-1268144424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfuo6OXqzCL4gbXouoqrKkrIr7lWwDvQV-7HhXXUObSGmgn1fI_g8mZueyKy3iqI-FKD4zLx4Mrp2IfI6Vf1fwHl8vlr3-weU4rXxQ6L-OqgQ5Sws-X5MDH11cOSD_EWdVqCtATuZpNg/s640/blogger-image-1268144424.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then it was back to the rock shop again, which also sells various kinds of earth and dirt. I bought half a yard of their Lightening Mix which is part gravel and good for succulents. Next door's truck came in handy again too; here it is being loaded. Unloading it was slower, involving the wheelbarrow, shovel and a hosepipe to wash the truck out afterwards...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSG2knbojLRWyiggYELHztvb6HGaRB2M-VbaAzUEBjRcPJkLW11dzEWNFz2I5-bsBdrYeSYSaRpMAuDaEdx-n_nNL_GhCr3z4iWJh1v3oN6GuqHZ2kRh8dLi5CAg3tL6OoN6Bt8j8fm0/s640/blogger-image-1414981707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSG2knbojLRWyiggYELHztvb6HGaRB2M-VbaAzUEBjRcPJkLW11dzEWNFz2I5-bsBdrYeSYSaRpMAuDaEdx-n_nNL_GhCr3z4iWJh1v3oN6GuqHZ2kRh8dLi5CAg3tL6OoN6Bt8j8fm0/s640/blogger-image-1414981707.jpg" /></a></div>
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And Lo! We have a tank full of earth. Actually, half a yard wasn't quite enough to fill it. I had to go back and buy eight 5-gallon bucketfuls more earth to get the level I wanted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS07sP_QIO1ZlnCAeBIvHpe3fTc99iKM7Zn4ONMAdmrlwv7JYOJOm0jsnMOOxfzr6PoetfI1boHLVcwpSCDGEKV2ZhwvdB3dsruB0a0gJB0XsJoObEDvKivN7Gnlf-7RYFQcw3vDzuYM/s640/blogger-image--1098497315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS07sP_QIO1ZlnCAeBIvHpe3fTc99iKM7Zn4ONMAdmrlwv7JYOJOm0jsnMOOxfzr6PoetfI1boHLVcwpSCDGEKV2ZhwvdB3dsruB0a0gJB0XsJoObEDvKivN7Gnlf-7RYFQcw3vDzuYM/s640/blogger-image--1098497315.jpg" /></a></div>
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And then it's the exciting part - planting time! Some of the plants I had around the house, waiting for their turn in a bigger pot. I bought the little blue agave that you see in the center. The two wispy Mexican grasses at the back I had already. The twisty yucca at 10-oclock came from a house nearby who was getting rid of it. The pale grass at 8-oclock, the dark green dangler at 6-oclock and the two small blue-ish ones on the right were bought. There's a pencil cactus at 2-oclock, and the rest are Aloe Veras, all of which came from Dee next door.</div>
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All together, they make a nice variety of shapes and colors. Now we will see if they survive in this location (part-sun at best) and of course we're heading into winter. Fingers crossed.</div>
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Here's a view of the entire end of the courtyard. In the red pot is a new Inland Sea Oats plant. These make interesting seed pods which rustle in the breeze. None on it yet though; maybe next year.</div>
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<br />futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-16520105230014693872015-10-09T15:07:00.000-05:002015-10-09T15:08:08.363-05:00RockSo... The Tale of the Rock. <div><br />
</div><div>It started with us laying a load of ground fabric in the front yard. Take that, weeds! </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z37xzOT0GO56eFfOmEh2tmMCtf72D8CvB5Sk8KcHKlPhaAuMr76mjr7IK0jSsQTiKX4uN7MIzZrQJPRVyRoPSBwebXujaoelI-xF4dL-BnifIGGMlDNM2tgBuiAk_wsMZ8fUqPBkul0/s640/blogger-image--1034293484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z37xzOT0GO56eFfOmEh2tmMCtf72D8CvB5Sk8KcHKlPhaAuMr76mjr7IK0jSsQTiKX4uN7MIzZrQJPRVyRoPSBwebXujaoelI-xF4dL-BnifIGGMlDNM2tgBuiAk_wsMZ8fUqPBkul0/s640/blogger-image--1034293484.jpg"></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then I ordered some River Rock from the shop up the road. An hour later, a small mountain appeared next to the driveway. Seven yards of rock, also known as a Metric Crap-Ton. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnFiFYd-dH5spItHPaii0TNBbrRINC6v1ZFtyEJE4WeLskgJq7HFWQ1cX3MR3PzPlo_mQ2xPH97KpmCv0gAhCTXwNHvj7YUJE5c29mfUuCN3A2o0E6KuYCBNy2tq66Pz25Nohk4CgkuI/s640/blogger-image--854077206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnFiFYd-dH5spItHPaii0TNBbrRINC6v1ZFtyEJE4WeLskgJq7HFWQ1cX3MR3PzPlo_mQ2xPH97KpmCv0gAhCTXwNHvj7YUJE5c29mfUuCN3A2o0E6KuYCBNy2tq66Pz25Nohk4CgkuI/s640/blogger-image--854077206.jpg"></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I braced myself for probably a week's work of hauling rock, a bit at a time. And made a post on Facebook about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Friend Doug saw the post, and the next day, he showed up with THIS!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P_jLBUp5U85eSEGFYsu3YJ8Jbjqif19l9Tx9Gji-ppxoS6CRXyy1zolSUyjxEIGJ61B8qxzGZ3kZwMBoAcCtKN-D7IBihMH9vg9HiM5wozcY82zEs96twSG6RAI7e304cJYUsCOEGzc/s640/blogger-image--1703571942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P_jLBUp5U85eSEGFYsu3YJ8Jbjqif19l9Tx9Gji-ppxoS6CRXyy1zolSUyjxEIGJ61B8qxzGZ3kZwMBoAcCtKN-D7IBihMH9vg9HiM5wozcY82zEs96twSG6RAI7e304cJYUsCOEGzc/s640/blogger-image--1703571942.jpg"></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh yeah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So we got to work. He fetched rock, lots of rock, and dumped half a scoop at a time into my wheelbarrow, and I would put it in various corners of the yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1KfHtMtOknbsieQp5L6BYk47SvbacmnwZT3Dhq69ofubTMN0_vii6c2m-3elVqvK-X5PtBX7-tyRXXJ0EhWkL5uoqADQwaqRN06nzIt_clURac137CR1gOOZwKMuOV5kPu4CXJA3ylc/s640/blogger-image--31889888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1KfHtMtOknbsieQp5L6BYk47SvbacmnwZT3Dhq69ofubTMN0_vii6c2m-3elVqvK-X5PtBX7-tyRXXJ0EhWkL5uoqADQwaqRN06nzIt_clURac137CR1gOOZwKMuOV5kPu4CXJA3ylc/s640/blogger-image--31889888.jpg"></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And soon, the pile looked like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iJL0y72qq_qcWYk_L2ZG2ghSFs-HgBU7KAaX9OWvBKaAKHCMXnZ3VzCNMDxk7r89vVK2a1Lz1C2ulfU8KbQgD6pmD7hsQoYuKlhY1anzD5hEfih-6F6gLcalb9_-_yDZg4YYpcEd8d4/s640/blogger-image--1280144871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iJL0y72qq_qcWYk_L2ZG2ghSFs-HgBU7KAaX9OWvBKaAKHCMXnZ3VzCNMDxk7r89vVK2a1Lz1C2ulfU8KbQgD6pmD7hsQoYuKlhY1anzD5hEfih-6F6gLcalb9_-_yDZg4YYpcEd8d4/s640/blogger-image--1280144871.jpg"></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the yard now looks like this! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I gave Doug a tasty foaming ale after this, I can tell you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks, Doug :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now, onwards! Time to get some plants in here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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</div>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-15600082674822185702015-09-28T17:18:00.002-05:002015-09-28T17:18:55.715-05:00Things that have been Going On<p>Someone destroyed our gate post the other week. Woke up one morning and it was like this. Of course, nobody has 'fessed up to it.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqDf7wQVJSEfCdPpKi93MlNZi81Rs4GM_eVufzz7P8GIEihAxyiLbWWHx0Fi3NoNXDFfkmj-GmL_ETZAFjGNjswA66e1tIWTIBs5F6G1yllbdPWP4b_4Ck8WbyZm3e9OhPW7JGz71Y4/s1600/62C8B532-CBEE-4F00-ABCC-DC0B50632EE3-774278.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqDf7wQVJSEfCdPpKi93MlNZi81Rs4GM_eVufzz7P8GIEihAxyiLbWWHx0Fi3NoNXDFfkmj-GmL_ETZAFjGNjswA66e1tIWTIBs5F6G1yllbdPWP4b_4Ck8WbyZm3e9OhPW7JGz71Y4/s640/62C8B532-CBEE-4F00-ABCC-DC0B50632EE3-774278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6198101554137643122" /></a></p><br />
<p>We got a couple of masons round and now it looks like this. They did a good job. We now need to find some new lights.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrv73SbgZ5hgjZO5rdudX1JeFWaNBD6k8vMLIuLq4tzmpLZoYQTa_D1SHydSIp22ksk6hRs6HbPFB3itoAd_zoQ97NBs1EOXpF8BbGh6G5Kb3tgzzW96aKEoEJkGTsKfxbjCfGFGm7S4/s1600/9EAE988A-7531-4165-B64D-EC76C1DB3E04-779711.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrv73SbgZ5hgjZO5rdudX1JeFWaNBD6k8vMLIuLq4tzmpLZoYQTa_D1SHydSIp22ksk6hRs6HbPFB3itoAd_zoQ97NBs1EOXpF8BbGh6G5Kb3tgzzW96aKEoEJkGTsKfxbjCfGFGm7S4/s640/9EAE988A-7531-4165-B64D-EC76C1DB3E04-779711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6198101581030409074" /></a></p><br />
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<p>Meanwhile, Texas finds new ways in which to surprise us. This was spotted at a rural brewery (Last Stand) on Sunday. You buy a numbered ticket, then they put the chicken in the box. Then you wait. Voila; Chicken Shit Bingo!</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH54wyzUXQr_9BeesPMZ5rXEMPH2tmYVnnImAdIRjzQelxb1q-Kqr7ktBt8HDqjHuGyIdZPRv1NES4_2djaf04xKWKz-qxBsgAFhrD2XxK5EmhWP9DJmWJ6N336o4gCc3TFcT9Ueh2ps/s1600/0B44D1C4-711A-4939-A2D5-59DFFEF1F0D6-776880.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH54wyzUXQr_9BeesPMZ5rXEMPH2tmYVnnImAdIRjzQelxb1q-Kqr7ktBt8HDqjHuGyIdZPRv1NES4_2djaf04xKWKz-qxBsgAFhrD2XxK5EmhWP9DJmWJ6N336o4gCc3TFcT9Ueh2ps/s640/0B44D1C4-711A-4939-A2D5-59DFFEF1F0D6-776880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6198101566028565138" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-33674553378172564762015-09-21T15:43:00.000-05:002015-09-21T15:43:09.503-05:00Shapes and a plant<p>Not a whole lot to report on the front yard; it's been too damn hot to do much out there. However, we did lay out some shapes in the garden with metal edging strips. These will be largely hidden eventually but should level out some of the slope in the ground. I've also got a roll of landscape fabric sitting here, ready to put down as a weed barrier. Once that's in place, it's Rock Time.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFpiGLtv3ldSvD4jESdaetP4dkZ_Py3zxIL9dufdfnwwig8XUUZl61vpNHg7Zu6aB6IZItl1PSGtu-R9tbuAhaA9y5iuJ8x3aeX0AKRvmUcxMhpWfyymWxI9Bukj_OGS7CJZkua9Hwa4/s1600/E04BDA0A-F709-445A-A2B4-06B1EC6793C4-786681.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFpiGLtv3ldSvD4jESdaetP4dkZ_Py3zxIL9dufdfnwwig8XUUZl61vpNHg7Zu6aB6IZItl1PSGtu-R9tbuAhaA9y5iuJ8x3aeX0AKRvmUcxMhpWfyymWxI9Bukj_OGS7CJZkua9Hwa4/s640/E04BDA0A-F709-445A-A2B4-06B1EC6793C4-786681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6197066522789517330" /></a></p><br />
<p>Today, a nice lady in a neighboring subdivision posted that she had some Red Yucca plants to get rid of. Nice big full grown ones. I managed to snag one! I've been thinking about getting one for our big pot, to put into the back corner of the garden. It's not quite full sun there, but Red Yuccas are supposed to be tolerant of a bit of shade, so I'll try it and see how it gets on. These plants put out six foot tall stalks with pinky-red flowers on, when they bloom. They're also technically an agave, not a yucca at all, so go figure. Hopefully there will be enough sun to get it to bloom.<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHsQDan4Uv0koNcbNNvPY9g0Hvm11YdgK9ABaCcvTlrVKq78qyjSrgOWt02ra8MpPfnC7dVVH63ahyphenhyphenWsqDFmECU0njwVBA0UD0Wta52XWAEj5OTb0YAi-SvjxnPKFz8DTAfcOdCLCfHI/s1600/5E317268-5572-4F2F-9BF7-6FB18DB5AA1E-789995.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHsQDan4Uv0koNcbNNvPY9g0Hvm11YdgK9ABaCcvTlrVKq78qyjSrgOWt02ra8MpPfnC7dVVH63ahyphenhyphenWsqDFmECU0njwVBA0UD0Wta52XWAEj5OTb0YAi-SvjxnPKFz8DTAfcOdCLCfHI/s640/5E317268-5572-4F2F-9BF7-6FB18DB5AA1E-789995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6197066536692586370" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-16088286209332803912015-07-29T13:31:00.001-05:002015-07-29T13:31:51.231-05:00The Front Yard<p>For the last eight years or so, our front courtyard has looked a lot like this.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3GellRXJRtBQAfZyCim2U9nFKSMPaP6_LbhQlHDTAhxP4_1TUCnfX7jEO2EQZVZVCVs3dJ0P2G5U3M_rHiovFqpr7-vJPbjvpY776iRyDZpYJMHyvWE0tbIUyH9b4ceX0hIWP_uWbqw/s1600/IMG_6808-733144.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3GellRXJRtBQAfZyCim2U9nFKSMPaP6_LbhQlHDTAhxP4_1TUCnfX7jEO2EQZVZVCVs3dJ0P2G5U3M_rHiovFqpr7-vJPbjvpY776iRyDZpYJMHyvWE0tbIUyH9b4ceX0hIWP_uWbqw/s640/IMG_6808-733144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6176997627537963682" /></a></p><br />
<p>And from the other direction:</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNvZyxxNIE9gdiFxrIeIdqN0k1101qX_cWfPZNo6SV6Gdx37c01zqzZXJ7V27dJXohtiebec84h8_Nb7Qfzjo5j9i-AJSWDI_QgPzPwJZ0AeJHNaUjDGMslB2laLaQCSuHZiZ7ubsY8/s1600/IMG_6809-736268.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNvZyxxNIE9gdiFxrIeIdqN0k1101qX_cWfPZNo6SV6Gdx37c01zqzZXJ7V27dJXohtiebec84h8_Nb7Qfzjo5j9i-AJSWDI_QgPzPwJZ0AeJHNaUjDGMslB2laLaQCSuHZiZ7ubsY8/s640/IMG_6809-736268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6176997638730863602" /></a></p><br />
<p>Well, we're bored of this and it's time to do something about it. So here it is after a bit of razing:</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI47RI9Jk8PxYWX0sFVcOX_4bU1w_tJ3WAXdBMUw-xgALRLj1_CKzhSrNBu9UcLeSzy0Vj6amBjgEFFG6YUuha2FkAMyIoJY42tffnP-1Eh3dedVvj8MWq0eVuddTDMU3sE3UCFImv5sY/s1600/IMG_8331-739458.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI47RI9Jk8PxYWX0sFVcOX_4bU1w_tJ3WAXdBMUw-xgALRLj1_CKzhSrNBu9UcLeSzy0Vj6amBjgEFFG6YUuha2FkAMyIoJY42tffnP-1Eh3dedVvj8MWq0eVuddTDMU3sE3UCFImv5sY/s640/IMG_8331-739458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6176997654005954098" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43nYEYOwcTps3pzFtsRuTorYw214UNVGI6BkDzeJ9cyPJLhnegGm2j3zCw6FQoceEDdTqEAw52NUWkTQ6MjgIFTxkn4K-IGizd4wkHw3AdKE-cqAoz6sl2f0mL1dBB1Zl2-zZxPuTW68/s1600/IMG_8332-742253.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43nYEYOwcTps3pzFtsRuTorYw214UNVGI6BkDzeJ9cyPJLhnegGm2j3zCw6FQoceEDdTqEAw52NUWkTQ6MjgIFTxkn4K-IGizd4wkHw3AdKE-cqAoz6sl2f0mL1dBB1Zl2-zZxPuTW68/s640/IMG_8332-742253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6176997665278375202" /></a></p><br />
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<p>We have plans. Watch this space!</p><br />
futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-66341695524126077122015-02-11T18:18:00.000-06:002015-02-11T20:42:30.786-06:00More Glass<p>A few recent bits and pieces.<br />
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<p>I made a night light, because it was getting gloomy towards the end of last year. </p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKOwdFMZxd_MGnxHVwQYWKjbbWNGu0JD2H6tQ865kZakKTOKmN7cAUH1qyLp_2Pz2nULdcXbAas3v4zOnZNnDJSDPh_EVKD4DJR9nxzbLya1KwstKHh5zdd8k_o9KirJ7jVQxrSAcWVU/s1600/IMG_6157-744565.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKOwdFMZxd_MGnxHVwQYWKjbbWNGu0JD2H6tQ865kZakKTOKmN7cAUH1qyLp_2Pz2nULdcXbAas3v4zOnZNnDJSDPh_EVKD4DJR9nxzbLya1KwstKHh5zdd8k_o9KirJ7jVQxrSAcWVU/s640/IMG_6157-744565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6114742986739986386" /></a></p><br />
<p>This was a Secret Santa present for a Star Wars fan :-) </p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOC5hOoIul5AVGkiI_AYpKHfRnC_n1ECDgQzRA8PixSSw8E5BG8hGj6Uv8bIaKwX7SpEFZFUAbrWQbPQCLBBDPs4xJlc5Jr47BKZwU902bQ4JwoLNgCa0igwFHRfUCGD82JT2c_5Q7em4/s1600/IMG_6318-712583.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOC5hOoIul5AVGkiI_AYpKHfRnC_n1ECDgQzRA8PixSSw8E5BG8hGj6Uv8bIaKwX7SpEFZFUAbrWQbPQCLBBDPs4xJlc5Jr47BKZwU902bQ4JwoLNgCa0igwFHRfUCGD82JT2c_5Q7em4/s640/IMG_6318-712583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6114754444752126882" /></a></p><br />
<p>A quick extra present for a friend of ours.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NNny7UA7UZ5_FNogpHBt6Fm0FoiYW6LbWkCSUPu0MtmctCXNjIwpfCQzO_neXkKTRP1o8YsYfgTn9L2-Qgn774gGti7BZ3t3QHSG8GO-BnNZnNHrK-qCStoWgI8fTuWGK25QjZEiGMw/s1600/IMG_6351-716222.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NNny7UA7UZ5_FNogpHBt6Fm0FoiYW6LbWkCSUPu0MtmctCXNjIwpfCQzO_neXkKTRP1o8YsYfgTn9L2-Qgn774gGti7BZ3t3QHSG8GO-BnNZnNHrK-qCStoWgI8fTuWGK25QjZEiGMw/s640/IMG_6351-716222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6114754459588723426" /></a></p><br />
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<p>I made this for the nice people at <a href="http://www.independencebrewing.com">Independence Brewing</a>.<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6PsQPfTZtEqk5U5UFovQL-kyWKoQuCP6EoGtfqX9g1YcpzFHc-LIPlwBmgLQMtLCFISF2MqZXk4NOHFKGywMpsXPs8G8FKw0N59ySpyij8GNdwPQTdskfWdm_8XXX4CUZQQ4p5aW1eo/s1600/FullSizeRender-747889.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6PsQPfTZtEqk5U5UFovQL-kyWKoQuCP6EoGtfqX9g1YcpzFHc-LIPlwBmgLQMtLCFISF2MqZXk4NOHFKGywMpsXPs8G8FKw0N59ySpyij8GNdwPQTdskfWdm_8XXX4CUZQQ4p5aW1eo/s640/FullSizeRender-747889.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6114743002176150674" /></a></p><br />
<p>And then I made this night light to test to see if I can make interesting shadows. It basically works but needs more refinement. Anyway, I now have another shiny light, so there's that.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9LGR8BDRa7yzT-Mg7vBTJJHIhOcF-HEHdRspJWaU949sUuPdzQxZGhu9vCMPVRqMraW-M55fwfocbp23T3DXEwfRFMREXtUTGf_jyelaDZyziDqXgVnQkWKEPKIQWtp-XCsULntlWqQ/s1600/IMG_6748-751508.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9LGR8BDRa7yzT-Mg7vBTJJHIhOcF-HEHdRspJWaU949sUuPdzQxZGhu9vCMPVRqMraW-M55fwfocbp23T3DXEwfRFMREXtUTGf_jyelaDZyziDqXgVnQkWKEPKIQWtp-XCsULntlWqQ/s640/IMG_6748-751508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6114743017540987698" /></a></p><br />
<p>Onwards...</p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-29071643234016259112014-11-11T15:32:00.000-06:002014-11-11T15:32:23.034-06:00Glass update<p>Time for a glass update. I haven't made a whole lot recently but I haven't been entirely idle, either.<br />
</p><br />
<p>These first two I cannot claim any credit for originality on, they are straight out of the 'Waste Not!' ebook from <a href="http://fusedglassbooks.com">fusedglassbooks.com</a>. But they were useful learning exercises and ways in which to use up some scrap.<br><br />
I took my ring saw to the edge of the blue one and then fire polished it, to try and make it more uniform. It could have done with a visit to the grinder first as well, and probably a higher polish temperature, but you live and learn.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVRMIQquCNdtaHx8gx2LxFgnj8PBke57AkFXhOXWJowRLpJua1K3A5pbeewOF2fLhdsldr8iaRalJhX3apDrqww7RxEtGKycnpalcg3jdK1UByJm_q2DBpvcyFOIg3q8DnWKZSPGRcUU/s1600/IMG_5588-709153.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVRMIQquCNdtaHx8gx2LxFgnj8PBke57AkFXhOXWJowRLpJua1K3A5pbeewOF2fLhdsldr8iaRalJhX3apDrqww7RxEtGKycnpalcg3jdK1UByJm_q2DBpvcyFOIg3q8DnWKZSPGRcUU/s640/IMG_5588-709153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6079759466893283218" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuCX1mB30NG_iEFmfssexk_cjLypxja9kK5X4k9SIpEpNUISwlAxDgkzAh4tW5hQgGIBPnsjyKTNMntclK4_DXHRy-Jypu8rflXv8tzuHnp-m7h7Gb_mmL8k-8TRCQgSct37wMCNXrdo/s1600/IMG_5589-712174.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuCX1mB30NG_iEFmfssexk_cjLypxja9kK5X4k9SIpEpNUISwlAxDgkzAh4tW5hQgGIBPnsjyKTNMntclK4_DXHRy-Jypu8rflXv8tzuHnp-m7h7Gb_mmL8k-8TRCQgSct37wMCNXrdo/s640/IMG_5589-712174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6079759478331907458" /></a></p><br />
<p>This one is the first piece I have made with actual lead since I did my original class way back when. I had to go and have a refresher session with Bob at <a href="http://austinbluemoon.com">Blue Moon</a> just to get my head around how to cut the lead.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw4enjADhOAKOxDtOafGQ286Y3FnlLjgkK2h0UQqjcLXcBuXbOeG5wlYSo5JwC4VCnlxfGIa4nycIj4X0YX-Evw0Ii2tBUsdUTnET3KWd5Id5Swm7wJfza6pVsiUvHX_T9O009cdmrm8/s1600/IMG_5586-706310.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw4enjADhOAKOxDtOafGQ286Y3FnlLjgkK2h0UQqjcLXcBuXbOeG5wlYSo5JwC4VCnlxfGIa4nycIj4X0YX-Evw0Ii2tBUsdUTnET3KWd5Id5Swm7wJfza6pVsiUvHX_T9O009cdmrm8/s640/IMG_5586-706310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6079759453934450370" /></a></p><br />
<p>I made this one for an aviation friend of mine.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAaz5L1BJRGr2rsn-7UXb_zN4cjaceWLrObrmn53QpzdbCc8D-7uD-H70xpvqezf5BfVPyh36Rf3cOSUy0VUKMQxjNj51_REdSNhk5q25Xh-8za-HG2brQk8Mp1pnqw8WuzMVPKgQnyo/s1600/IMG_6097-700389.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAaz5L1BJRGr2rsn-7UXb_zN4cjaceWLrObrmn53QpzdbCc8D-7uD-H70xpvqezf5BfVPyh36Rf3cOSUy0VUKMQxjNj51_REdSNhk5q25Xh-8za-HG2brQk8Mp1pnqw8WuzMVPKgQnyo/s640/IMG_6097-700389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6079759431124620034" /></a></p><br />
<p>And here we have one made for the owners of this Fokker Triplane.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-I0xcp-12Uxqm0Tn8ThrkVwNkmYmUqhAxJpeVE1R4dBXCOc3v6labuL5Cpb5WzBG4xhnBt2AaZKmhGJezOdxEC6Hh8fvHDsmFsGioYjP2OfLT53IEwgWmSqisvZ0QeqYSe0cLwn4S2c/s1600/IMG_6110-703417.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-I0xcp-12Uxqm0Tn8ThrkVwNkmYmUqhAxJpeVE1R4dBXCOc3v6labuL5Cpb5WzBG4xhnBt2AaZKmhGJezOdxEC6Hh8fvHDsmFsGioYjP2OfLT53IEwgWmSqisvZ0QeqYSe0cLwn4S2c/s640/IMG_6110-703417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6079759438539066306" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-413947093148194892014-09-15T14:07:00.001-05:002014-09-15T14:07:10.644-05:00Nocturnal IncursionsI got woken up at 5am this morning to the sound of a breaking plant pot. Then I start to hear scrabbling noises around the cat flap.<br />
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Found this guy inhabiting our sun room...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1SHU-ALa_DO3m_YLACpKcAIVtmQA8_SV9PZ5dEtgrQEC5zLoF8cgkS3ShwKA-ZALkLewjl6ByfVvxD-FDsNnheERmKJtPp9dCcBjcaMGp9bz3wj-DMmma0YlRczJC1YA3voBqVDCKzg/s1600/Raccoon-1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1SHU-ALa_DO3m_YLACpKcAIVtmQA8_SV9PZ5dEtgrQEC5zLoF8cgkS3ShwKA-ZALkLewjl6ByfVvxD-FDsNnheERmKJtPp9dCcBjcaMGp9bz3wj-DMmma0YlRczJC1YA3voBqVDCKzg/s650/Raccoon-1.png" /></a><br />
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Of course, the cats were now also awake, active and curious. The last thing I wanted was a feline-raccoon interaction. So I went out the front door, around the house, and opened the sun room door from the other side. The raccoon shot out and ran off into the dark.<br />
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The cats and I went back to bed...futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-16368745316607175532014-09-02T15:52:00.002-05:002014-09-02T15:52:53.137-05:00Brick oven: Modifications<p>Just when you thought the brick oven was a mere myth and legend...</p><br />
<p>It's been a few months since the last update, and the reason is because Alan had some repairs to make. Earlier this year, he noticed the keystone bricks in the front of the chimney were sitting low. He reasoned that lifting them with an exercise ball and cementing them back into place was a suitable approach. However it turns out that pneumatics are stronger than cemented joins... the entire front lifted up. Alan ended up having to dismantle the entire arch and rebuild it. </p><br />
<p>Which brings us to more recent times. Alan rebuilt the tunnel with a squared-off roof this time. It might not be quite as traditional but it sure is easier to construct. He's got steel beams in there for rigidity (and to hold the bricks up) and now the chimney sits flatter on top, too. So it's all good.</p><br />
<p>Below is a picture of the first fire to be lit in here, in a while.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP6JF0Jzxbp5qcp-Hy0_iwowl4cKmxE2bwLcbhxgdVfA9p6vpGtO6qUO0jPI6kkhqv78-kIfw7lauL_A0f8ByeVSV5mnLti3pKtqd9c4OsszkI5w2GcnQsHFSZkzC0OvQbCjPRMdgBFA/s1600/photo-753900.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP6JF0Jzxbp5qcp-Hy0_iwowl4cKmxE2bwLcbhxgdVfA9p6vpGtO6qUO0jPI6kkhqv78-kIfw7lauL_A0f8ByeVSV5mnLti3pKtqd9c4OsszkI5w2GcnQsHFSZkzC0OvQbCjPRMdgBFA/s640/photo-753900.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6054556364611891586" /></a></p><br />
<p>Now, we have to light some more fires inside, to dry out the new cement. When the weather gets a little cooler, it will be stucco time. Watch this space...</p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-31414186224810169132014-02-18T11:07:00.000-06:002014-02-18T11:07:39.188-06:00Fan Lamp 2<p>I thought I'd make another fan lamp, but this time do it in fused glass. Here's some shots of how it was made and how it turned out.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo">A layer of petals, and a center.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4elBWYZV7A1_2UUkTl16A7QWFeyWkJ36LoV7Fx6xnikYqSjIbgtoSWFlPvBhys5VD7HulE1Xnz3yp-MysPFVbaE52sLL0czDwbavnBwHwCAjhNbcrsorMduyYBdakjoOAgONqZ9i6z2o/s1600/photo+1-703137.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4elBWYZV7A1_2UUkTl16A7QWFeyWkJ36LoV7Fx6xnikYqSjIbgtoSWFlPvBhys5VD7HulE1Xnz3yp-MysPFVbaE52sLL0czDwbavnBwHwCAjhNbcrsorMduyYBdakjoOAgONqZ9i6z2o/s320/photo+1-703137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981784791826470002" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo">Second layer of petals and some supports.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY1D8RxL7-07iEXGB2zHPvX1l4UyfMAoWY9SeHsiiTuieKdbb8zi4TUVJeOyj4OyO1rmJMdNDCmYR988U8MlSakKzEi42CRmfootQaHKr9BzJfgbFIPy9jjy8XEaeyelEsHhix2kNKms/s1600/photo+2-706303.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY1D8RxL7-07iEXGB2zHPvX1l4UyfMAoWY9SeHsiiTuieKdbb8zi4TUVJeOyj4OyO1rmJMdNDCmYR988U8MlSakKzEi42CRmfootQaHKr9BzJfgbFIPy9jjy8XEaeyelEsHhix2kNKms/s320/photo+2-706303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981784804247703026" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo">Inner petals.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DqLcQVC-EhMnVb8Y-kz4tSt-LTbss3V7R8N18aL1igWnw7rvXy5vA-1zVHks5b2Dyj7cqGOrmH7eOTOs0-lEdfg-l6nurnn9Hkn4S0nQbO3c3qaRzw9-XBJVOUwMIG29QyL8L2c2sHw/s1600/photo+3-713308.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DqLcQVC-EhMnVb8Y-kz4tSt-LTbss3V7R8N18aL1igWnw7rvXy5vA-1zVHks5b2Dyj7cqGOrmH7eOTOs0-lEdfg-l6nurnn9Hkn4S0nQbO3c3qaRzw9-XBJVOUwMIG29QyL8L2c2sHw/s320/photo+3-713308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981784837839640386" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo">Center in place, and frit added over the top for texture and interest. The white stuff is glue.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoif9jhgSXaxfDpPdHeaZJjdVjfHWRWRVAyFiODxE6Eu3nNieZWoeB0y-ddiIwvQNye39T6QcCGN2m-gtMEE-qlXW5YAwLlxWjBDcilbtVrKQmyEo61bv7D1lxBk4maUVQi9YVk9j18E/s1600/photo+4-715637.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoif9jhgSXaxfDpPdHeaZJjdVjfHWRWRVAyFiODxE6Eu3nNieZWoeB0y-ddiIwvQNye39T6QcCGN2m-gtMEE-qlXW5YAwLlxWjBDcilbtVrKQmyEo61bv7D1lxBk4maUVQi9YVk9j18E/s320/photo+4-715637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981784847104419410" /></a></p><br />
<p>The final piece! Red glass is really hard to photograph with an iPhone, but there's a lot of visual interest going on here, especially when it's lit.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7z4YivwZQ7g4bicNNjHS40MKyPBPDig1IcUmSwf7KqRaitjEu3a9TARNyp6PTLZRBPr_ByGhrhIyGlnSzVkyq-a8-e6n6kUk7TYPiYH_M1yfCX8t1cMn7LTp1GFhF8uTwiIqLDlFLd4/s1600/photo+5-718607.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7z4YivwZQ7g4bicNNjHS40MKyPBPDig1IcUmSwf7KqRaitjEu3a9TARNyp6PTLZRBPr_ByGhrhIyGlnSzVkyq-a8-e6n6kUk7TYPiYH_M1yfCX8t1cMn7LTp1GFhF8uTwiIqLDlFLd4/s640/photo+5-718607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981784860740552226" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-24370528375092270612014-02-10T07:53:00.003-06:002014-02-10T07:53:27.428-06:00Fan Lamp<p>I didn't know fan lamps were a thing until a neighbor introduced me to them. She is moving soon and I bought a load of art glass from her. In the pile was this lamp kit. Once I found out what to do with it, I had to make one!</p><br />
<p>I went with an Indian-inspired design on this. Laid it out in Illustrator (as I do with all my glass designs) and here we are. It has a 25W bulb behind it, which is plenty enough.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsvYJtTDI3Q47-uPCnY88Rq_uYbGrwEpBndtZ-QhwF_4VTjXXvILoUzTw7umDIeS2HEbJRsFe4qhbVt_2jZYfEQtVhFc14RdfzmzzPU0e-5SVl6-jJ0sDM3_ibPZ_D4vLhg9_-YkoknI/s1600/photo-736658.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsvYJtTDI3Q47-uPCnY88Rq_uYbGrwEpBndtZ-QhwF_4VTjXXvILoUzTw7umDIeS2HEbJRsFe4qhbVt_2jZYfEQtVhFc14RdfzmzzPU0e-5SVl6-jJ0sDM3_ibPZ_D4vLhg9_-YkoknI/s640/photo-736658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5978766863777637026" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-68720018886809564562014-01-31T07:29:00.002-06:002014-01-31T07:29:53.342-06:00Proclamations<p>I've seen enough episodes of 'The Simpsons' and films to know that in America, sometimes the local Mayor will proclaim it to be a certain day. I've never actually seen this in real life until now. When we heard that one of our favorite local singer/songwriters was going to be honored at City Hall in Austin, we had to go along!</p><br />
<p>Here's City Hall. It's a very cool building. Lots of interesting angles in the architecture.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixP1YXs30G6fHaelHLqQ2ZMyzRTxdHN1QY-AuURBpQ0By3jHQlevwSSQqUnV9NeF4X4jn2cb11TBqucQPjENrgFl-0gv1HG1bLdd00t9NaaYU7fmAEOdeH3PJY_18EM7AKsfUYpzrQ5c/s1600/CM-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixP1YXs30G6fHaelHLqQ2ZMyzRTxdHN1QY-AuURBpQ0By3jHQlevwSSQqUnV9NeF4X4jn2cb11TBqucQPjENrgFl-0gv1HG1bLdd00t9NaaYU7fmAEOdeH3PJY_18EM7AKsfUYpzrQ5c/s640/CM-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Inside the Council Chambers, they put Cheryl's album cover on the screen.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPnAhI3vfcXUloYir0sZNADyksUtCllawxsS1_K1TW3nEa6qeS4Ab0yTyXxlroAEKz2I5j8cHwR0BtY4jaCF-vOg4MV-BjMLc1VDnc00T2_5GdEesf2orCRHcfFhTk-heu5Z11kig4K8/s1600/CM-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPnAhI3vfcXUloYir0sZNADyksUtCllawxsS1_K1TW3nEa6qeS4Ab0yTyXxlroAEKz2I5j8cHwR0BtY4jaCF-vOg4MV-BjMLc1VDnc00T2_5GdEesf2orCRHcfFhTk-heu5Z11kig4K8/s640/CM-2.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>Cheryl played a song before the proclamation.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-DeOUwcE7_t5oztrYYLWybXKNY5lOPew6Dj2TS0SVmN43OtOCS-R_1iXhEu800aCRi0QrxwKo9C-xMX5phivT15rfMW7wjFAYHQqzXfcpRen_9ha9laU62PNyG9V2NXw8QkJu8RfYj4/s1600/CM-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-DeOUwcE7_t5oztrYYLWybXKNY5lOPew6Dj2TS0SVmN43OtOCS-R_1iXhEu800aCRi0QrxwKo9C-xMX5phivT15rfMW7wjFAYHQqzXfcpRen_9ha9laU62PNyG9V2NXw8QkJu8RfYj4/s640/CM-3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>A few more shots of the Council Chamber while Cheryl's on.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTSsuYeyw98AQ6xzE61S0GPLaGLDS0AVHhQA834aALdwoEJFtSfiicBvqZipwiG1me_YGHtxTZ_Xdcei_Ge_kCRNB5FXKyKdlePF1xYiwkO82q30JlIsGhQ5i6Yp8YATJ9l9MNmnsEJA/s1600/CM-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTSsuYeyw98AQ6xzE61S0GPLaGLDS0AVHhQA834aALdwoEJFtSfiicBvqZipwiG1me_YGHtxTZ_Xdcei_Ge_kCRNB5FXKyKdlePF1xYiwkO82q30JlIsGhQ5i6Yp8YATJ9l9MNmnsEJA/s640/CM-4.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKz_JcX8jpNtDqfN94ABs9-Bte7CdQItwuAbo1LdTmneX7Ba7VVb4bYCEWAUa88oo3rQ4EYjQKb3rj99xfqJZaLM_qiuwPGpOWz34Xga3UdxYRPLah-EyYBtQzQNGsKhNFX_g3GvqW48/s1600/CM-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKz_JcX8jpNtDqfN94ABs9-Bte7CdQItwuAbo1LdTmneX7Ba7VVb4bYCEWAUa88oo3rQ4EYjQKb3rj99xfqJZaLM_qiuwPGpOWz34Xga3UdxYRPLah-EyYBtQzQNGsKhNFX_g3GvqW48/s640/CM-5.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIRBO0TvkUZ4yeyrJQbUJ97Zt3v6bcEZpUQ1FOtEJpxpB3SZYFU-LBD8NxlLk-JmZ0k9sh1JECQH6JQrLl8Hrxok3Zh3B2z1e6ZY7IytnA8szgKF2g6Gmtq2E3WnDtb-x9c_M6XFvAIw/s1600/CM-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIRBO0TvkUZ4yeyrJQbUJ97Zt3v6bcEZpUQ1FOtEJpxpB3SZYFU-LBD8NxlLk-JmZ0k9sh1JECQH6JQrLl8Hrxok3Zh3B2z1e6ZY7IytnA8szgKF2g6Gmtq2E3WnDtb-x9c_M6XFvAIw/s640/CM-6.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>The Proclamation is read out. I don't know who the lady in pink is but she seemed to be the main speaker in the Mayor's place. The Mayor himself was busying himself with the recipient of the next Proclamation who was the reason for all the TV cameras in the room. His loss!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zTp28TI97zk9u_4X-0DW3iznkPCwnujqtrU224I3ihkd1aetQjaDYQhVHXqdCV6Gyq-DnQ4t5RkRXAKRzww0DiBkycwaMAg34LfrgPF60FHXIikU-1qPSbNLH_0vFVyMb_0mPswRwpE/s1600/CM-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zTp28TI97zk9u_4X-0DW3iznkPCwnujqtrU224I3ihkd1aetQjaDYQhVHXqdCV6Gyq-DnQ4t5RkRXAKRzww0DiBkycwaMAg34LfrgPF60FHXIikU-1qPSbNLH_0vFVyMb_0mPswRwpE/s640/CM-7.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSxdaEu_fXzgyfq16HMChocjZdrAMgXDuXf-FPF06tdGgbTnFFTnbUeUqWzq9BPrjK1oTp42QLh09SGWVPelEaKFDHt7qA1cZJd_aCC-J1sGA2tGTmh6yevcUrIaVTf3UzddsH_RfGgg/s1600/CM-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSxdaEu_fXzgyfq16HMChocjZdrAMgXDuXf-FPF06tdGgbTnFFTnbUeUqWzq9BPrjK1oTp42QLh09SGWVPelEaKFDHt7qA1cZJd_aCC-J1sGA2tGTmh6yevcUrIaVTf3UzddsH_RfGgg/s640/CM-8.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpg3gbZqL0h4INowg-PFghHZUW40UA-ZDFdLo0q5SilQbemMhUfw1JeYpfq9JSEEa6MzF0u1mCeXfBZ9Gg0MVdY30ujSRcTUh7SlvQTNKEUtlZpKVxtQa3bSzghjvoYn11UVFllvtQVE/s1600/CM-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpg3gbZqL0h4INowg-PFghHZUW40UA-ZDFdLo0q5SilQbemMhUfw1JeYpfq9JSEEa6MzF0u1mCeXfBZ9Gg0MVdY30ujSRcTUh7SlvQTNKEUtlZpKVxtQa3bSzghjvoYn11UVFllvtQVE/s640/CM-9.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>(too bad they didn't get the spelling right but what can you do?)<br>Cheryl is presented with the official Proclamation.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVlx9sTemopQnwaOoJzNfS3OuUCSW7loiCsbIc4NxcOXFUWW4CBVjG_TpXfV9G-Fpsa-fvUFaw2M8K91FN53Y0y3sbsLsqe1t9ljATX2nQ7u6HhV-pS_pn4zTNvlBpVbXxjkQ7akuItg/s1600/CM-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVlx9sTemopQnwaOoJzNfS3OuUCSW7loiCsbIc4NxcOXFUWW4CBVjG_TpXfV9G-Fpsa-fvUFaw2M8K91FN53Y0y3sbsLsqe1t9ljATX2nQ7u6HhV-pS_pn4zTNvlBpVbXxjkQ7akuItg/s640/CM-10.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p>And that was it! Short but sweet.</p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-72214617131025933362013-12-13T17:49:00.000-06:002013-12-13T17:49:17.795-06:00Sometimes, they stop fighting<p>And sit near each other. But not _too_ close ;-)</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8iYUS1lJLYmG_uDsDkw9TwBsdY5S9Dl3Ws_a5s4Hxxv05l0MC5Att-yQ-OOTsFhXRVx0BEuXXlGzMq2P4eWsXfJSwov4hpcuojye-3Yyl6B7N9CwqDkiXMDOpDmU490mb2Lc9M1Ly2s/s1600/photo+1-789053.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8iYUS1lJLYmG_uDsDkw9TwBsdY5S9Dl3Ws_a5s4Hxxv05l0MC5Att-yQ-OOTsFhXRVx0BEuXXlGzMq2P4eWsXfJSwov4hpcuojye-3Yyl6B7N9CwqDkiXMDOpDmU490mb2Lc9M1Ly2s/s640/photo+1-789053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5957024677926647122" /></a></p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAoOaaemqeMV2b-czqBir_DPTljBeFX8owO8fC_Y6LdKdu76H_CtrJ-pXwS_GvqcxQm5s8d87CX7ZWSgUUYP7LBgN7x6TQAWz837taqYYmhG_6Bq-edb0MZ51SHOWa1DbUmmCl9fN4jw/s1600/photo+2-795983.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAoOaaemqeMV2b-czqBir_DPTljBeFX8owO8fC_Y6LdKdu76H_CtrJ-pXwS_GvqcxQm5s8d87CX7ZWSgUUYP7LBgN7x6TQAWz837taqYYmhG_6Bq-edb0MZ51SHOWa1DbUmmCl9fN4jw/s640/photo+2-795983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5957024708754853602" /></a></p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-400094694011899031.post-30806426308373227812013-11-26T08:30:00.002-06:002013-11-26T08:30:19.742-06:00Sleepy Cats<p>Prepare for cuteness!</p><p>Here's Smokey, all sleepy and spark out.</p><br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fu_tSiqY6sLu_T2sjWJOHuoj2xPcJRKy4d6JSH9Lk2UxRrDCyiybgF_MZNKAjLZBCCBE6pyhaXzt_nKRu67c1iv71IOZXqkoVpjvTTW-XoEiDEPm9-xM1fEryDLVOEFoqueFNUhDk2U/s1600/photo+1-787037.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fu_tSiqY6sLu_T2sjWJOHuoj2xPcJRKy4d6JSH9Lk2UxRrDCyiybgF_MZNKAjLZBCCBE6pyhaXzt_nKRu67c1iv71IOZXqkoVpjvTTW-XoEiDEPm9-xM1fEryDLVOEFoqueFNUhDk2U/s640/photo+1-787037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5950387658047647282" /></a></p><br />
<p>He even chose to ignore the fact that Sunshine jumped right up next to him. Usually that would be greeted with growling.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwYIN9-6KxzUsF0rNvb9ANKJf-SI3o4C1Xo4zoAw6Oagef6bIzBwji4oITJvi9QVeH4hiEbNCgduqXYTxhhHJI_FdkynrA1_8FJyegW7zX2Hyy_ZwUkdUQwp__Qj2pvP4NiW1gzOV-fM/s1600/photo+2-790257.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwYIN9-6KxzUsF0rNvb9ANKJf-SI3o4C1Xo4zoAw6Oagef6bIzBwji4oITJvi9QVeH4hiEbNCgduqXYTxhhHJI_FdkynrA1_8FJyegW7zX2Hyy_ZwUkdUQwp__Qj2pvP4NiW1gzOV-fM/s640/photo+2-790257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5950387667019220834" /></a></p><br />
<p>Another night. Mine, all mine...!</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL5WzQ5cs4H03mj0Go1Ng2M_uGCGHGqRkABeXd7Vdm5Xo_BPbuQi5GDTvWet0xCBOCKCGCWsrrY9A0Hl9AAxT0-iTYatsUDe0smI_YzFWfMDAL45hN0Qt19pQn9mwGw3ntF0wd3xrczk/s1600/photo+3-792843.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL5WzQ5cs4H03mj0Go1Ng2M_uGCGHGqRkABeXd7Vdm5Xo_BPbuQi5GDTvWet0xCBOCKCGCWsrrY9A0Hl9AAxT0-iTYatsUDe0smI_YzFWfMDAL45hN0Qt19pQn9mwGw3ntF0wd3xrczk/s640/photo+3-792843.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5950387680633811122" /></a></p><br />
<p>Last night. Sleepy Sunshine.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnyXyRGjpF1ZT54zLJL9D2n6Go-zVV0CPFHlFdraw6IkB4j7LgSuROs0lw56NsmBMMEei8Xk7W2VFVSdmnU2YKckk_HOCHzQnVzQoef7deX8aVKVyg2btrijnEHxZiwM8Xz0XjoJomLM/s1600/photo+4-795383.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnyXyRGjpF1ZT54zLJL9D2n6Go-zVV0CPFHlFdraw6IkB4j7LgSuROs0lw56NsmBMMEei8Xk7W2VFVSdmnU2YKckk_HOCHzQnVzQoef7deX8aVKVyg2btrijnEHxZiwM8Xz0XjoJomLM/s640/photo+4-795383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5950387689917512434" /></a></p><br />
<p>Extra sleepy.... head back; well out of it...</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO18eBHqdLmc8D-Ju8ITLlEFkDLLZdbvjH5cpMPq-MY3ITvyc_LecdEH2cc8ag_FNN16MiwlFHc0eDSxmRUJmn7jelwuPp9S_0BIN904t9RRqGMRC004lJ9bhlG2r_6uzOgG66QmnA3k/s1600/photo-738439.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO18eBHqdLmc8D-Ju8ITLlEFkDLLZdbvjH5cpMPq-MY3ITvyc_LecdEH2cc8ag_FNN16MiwlFHc0eDSxmRUJmn7jelwuPp9S_0BIN904t9RRqGMRC004lJ9bhlG2r_6uzOgG66QmnA3k/s640/photo-738439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5950387875873985842" /></a></p><br />
<p>This behaviour seems to intensify when the weather is cold and rainy out... I think they like the warmth :-)</p>futurshoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418553542931249254noreply@blogger.com0